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Tech & Innovation - Silicon Harbor's Competitive Edge

Charleston County is globally recognized as the Southeast's "Silicon Harbor, “a dynamic ecosystem that has rapidly expanded to house over 1,600 tech companies, generating an economic output of more than $51.7 billion for the state's tech cluster. We are the ideal location for software development, IT services, cybersecurity, and advanced engineering operations.

Tech + Innovation in Charleston County by the Numbers

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The average per-capita wage of a Charleston Digital Corridor business, at $130,522 is 2.12x higher than the per-capital wage for the Charleston Region.

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Technology sector's portion of regional GDP - the Charleston Tech sector has seen a 7.2% annual growth rate over the last decade, compared to 5.1% nationally.

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Charleston's Tech Sector has multiplied over ninety times since 2001 - from just 18 businesses to over 1,600.

Alita logo

Alita

Charleston Digital logo

Charleston Digital

DartPoints logo

DartPoints

Heirloom Cloud Corporation logo

Heirloom Cloud Corporation

Interloop logo

Interloop, A Division of Atlantic

Kalibrate logo

Kalibrate

M.C. Dean logo

M.C. Dean, Inc.

Members HQ logo

Member HQ

Modus21 logo

Modus21, LLC

MOONDOG Animation Studio logo

MOONDOG Animation Studio

OhmIQ logo

OhmIQ

Omatic logo

Omatic

Portside Technology logo

Portside Technology

Sprockets logo

Sprockets

Title AI logo

Title AI

Testimonials

“We are thrilled to continue our rapid growth in Charleston County; while it’s a beautiful place to live and work, it’s also a business-friendly environment for us to attract and retain top technology talent. With exciting opportunities and more growth ahead, we’re proud to call Charleston our home.”

Zach McNamara, CEO Portside Technology

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Testimonials

"The state of South Carolina and the Charleston metropolitan area provide the ideal environment for Ignite Digital Services to expand its operations and client portfolio. The region offers a high quality of life for its residents and attracts a wide pool of technology talent, both of which support the city and our organization’s rapid growth. We appreciate the work done by the Governor and Secretary of Commerce to drive the innovation economy in this area and are excited for this new opportunity to expand Charleston’s technology community.”

Marc Murphy, CEO Ignite Digital

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An exterior wide shot of the Charleston Tech Center, a large modern building with grey siding under a clear blue sky.

The Urban Anchor of Silicon Harbor

High-Growth Tech Infrastructure

At the center of our tech district stands the Charleston Tech Center (CTC), a 92,000-square-foot flagship facility that serves as a monument to the region’s digital evolution. Operated in partnership with the Charleston Digital Corridor (CDC), this state-of-the-art hub offers flexible “Flagship” coworking spaces, private tech suites, and a Google-backed Learning Center. It is the premier destination for high-wage tech companies seeking to attract top-tier talent in an environment designed for innovation, collaboration, and rapid scaling.

Explore the Tech Center
A group of people smiling during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held outdoors in front of a modern building. Three men hold a pair of oversized silver scissors over a teal ribbon that features the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce logo.

Where Tech Founders Collide

Startup & Founder Support

The Harbor Entrepreneur Center is the heartbeat of Charleston’s startup scene, explicitly designed to foster “collision” between thinkers and doers. Through its Harbor Accelerator and specialized Forum groups, the center provides early-stage companies with world-class mentorship, market validation, and a high-impact network of fellow entrepreneurs. With a focus on scalability and community, The Harbor ensures that the next generation of Silicon Harbor innovators has the foundation to grow from a “garage startup” to a global competitor.

Join the Community

Grow, scale, and succeed in Charleston County.

01 / Innovation Ecosystem & Startup Support

Charleston County offers a dynamic environment for technology companies to start, scale, and thrive. Our innovation ecosystem brings together startups, established firms, research institutions, and public partners to accelerate growth and commercialization. From early-stage founders to expanding technology employers, companies benefit from a collaborative culture, access to experienced mentors, and strong public-private partnerships that help transform ideas into market-ready solutions across software, health tech, data, and emerging technologies.

02 / Market Access & Industry Connections

Charleston County gives technology companies direct access to diverse, high-value markets. From logistics and advanced manufacturing to healthcare, life sciences, and professional services, companies located here can pilot solutions, secure customers, and scale across multiple industries. Businesses benefit from strong public-private partnerships, proximity to decision-makers, and a collaborative regional network that accelerates partnerships, customer acquisition, and long-term growth. Charleston County Economic Development serves as a connector—helping companies build meaningful relationships and navigate opportunities across the region.

03 / Talent Pipeline & Workforce Excellence

Charleston County’s tech economy is powered by a skilled, adaptable workforce and strong education partnerships aligned with industry needs. Companies benefit from access to professionals in software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, engineering, and business services. College of Charleston and regional partners offer degree programs, certifications, and professional development tailored to technology-driven industries. Workforce partnerships help companies recruit, train, and retain talent as they grow.

04 / Quality of Place & Talent Attraction

Charleston County pairs a competitive business environment with a quality of life that helps companies attract and retain top talent. A coastal setting, vibrant downtowns, and diverse communities create a place where professionals want to live, work, and grow their careers. Technology companies benefit from a region that supports flexible work styles, cultural amenities, outdoor recreation, and strong schools—factors that increasingly influence location decisions. This quality of place strengthens workforce stability, boosts recruitment efforts, and enhances long-term employee retention.